My father, Ken Drury, who has died aged 71, came from humble beginnings, and never forgot his roots, spending his entire career encouraging children from poorer backgrounds to realise their potential.

He qualified as a teacher in 1962 and in 1964 joined Eastbrook school in Dagenham, east London, rising through the ranks to become headmaster in 1981. He remained in the role for 21 years until retirement. During his tenure, Eastbrook's academic record improved dramatically and the school increased its intake to become one of the largest comprehensives in Britain.

Ken put Eastbrook at the heart of the community, organising firework displays and charity walks to raise money for Christmas hampers for local pensioners. He was proud of the school's commitment to local residents and delighted to see many of his former pupils return as teachers.

Brought up in a council house in nearby Barking, Ken was the first Drury to attend both grammar school and undertake higher education. A seminal moment in his life was the death of his mother, Elizabeth, when he was 18. He became the de facto head of the family and from then on, Ken was the first person to whom family and friends turned for help. His advice was always sensible, thoughtful and sensitive. In 1963 he married his school sweetheart, Evelyn.

Ken was a passionate believer in comprehensive education and the jurisdiction of local education authorities. He was dismayed to hear a government spokesman deriding the "bog standard comprehensive" and believed that any return to selection or weakening of education authorities would mean many working-class children being abandoned.

After his retirement, to the Essex village of High Roding, Ken indulged his love of history by writing and editing three books for the Great Dunmow and District Historical and Literary Society – on the second world war, national service and the war hero Noel Mellish. Sadly, macular degeneration severely affected his eyesight and thwarted the publication of further volumes.

A devoted family man, he arranged annual Easter vacations to Devon and Normandy for three generations of Drurys. He organised regular reunions with his friends from grammar school and was an avid follower of West Ham United, attending matches with his sons and grandsons.

Ken is survived by Evelyn, his three children, Bill, Cathy and myself, and six grandchildren.